The Cubs won 9-4 Monday, and 6-4 Tuesday, and will go for the sweep of Arizona tonight, before heading into Los Angeles to play the Dodgers.

As for the State of the Cubs, Hendry plans to make trades in a fashion I suggested earlier, selling for this season, but at the same time, buying for next season, by possibly acquiring young players that are more than capable major leaguers, or at least major league-ready players.

The Cubs left 17 on base today, but they still scored 3, which was enough to beat the Reds, as Wells brought a no-hitter into the 7th before allowing three consecutive hits. The Final score was 3-1 as Soriano had a bases loaded bloop and Soto got a ball into the ivy accounting for all 3 Cubs runs. Marmol had a 4 out save relieving Wells after 7 and 2/3. The Cubs now sit 10.5 GB of Cincinnati and are 11 games under .500.

I have always wanted to attend a Chicago Cubs game. Today was the day. The Chicago Cubs took on the Pittsburgh Pirates today. Which, of course, meant that they lost.

An Aramis Ramirez error in the 8th led to two unearned runs and Cashner’s third straight loss. Lee gave a ball a ride in the 9th and everyone thought it was a homer, except me, as I usually can tell where the ball is going right off the bat and knew it was going to hang up in Center Field with how hard the wind was blowing in. So the Cubs lost 2-0.

Colvin had a pinch-hit strikeout, and Castro struck out twice but also doubled. Cashner struggled again, and Schlitter went two strong innings.

The Chicago Cubs looked to change their fortunes against the Pirates today, and a solid outing by Ted Lilly and two blast by Alfonso Soriano led the Cubs to a 3-1 victory at Wrigley Field. The scoring started in the 2nd inning when Koyie Hill doubled, advancing to 3rd on a Passed Ball by Ryan Doumit. Starlin Castro came through with a Sacrifice Fly to send him home though the play was close due to a strong throw by Tabata. The Cubs would score again in the 4th when Alfonso Soriano hit a Solo Homer, despite a strong wind blowing in, to make it 2-0 Cubs. Ryan Doumit redeemed himself in the 5th, when he homered to make it 2-1, the first and only run the Pirates would score. It wouldn’t stay that way for long, as Soriano hit his second Solo Blast of the game to make it 3-1 Cubs. Lilly picked up the Win and Marmol earned the Save, striking out two in a 1-2-3 9th inning.

The Cubs will recall LHP James Russell and RHP Jeff Stevens from AAA Iowa as they move recently suspended RHP Carlos Zambrano to the Restricted List and LHP John Grabow to the Disabled List.

Russell and Stevens had been with the big-league team earlier in the season.

On another note, former Cubs Mark Prior will be pitching in front of scouts from most MLB teams in hope of a comeback. It is presumed, though not ascertained, that the Cubs are among the parties that will be there.

The Cubs lost 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Brian Schlitter made a successful MLB debut (go down two posts), but Cashner is again left in too long and Marmol struggled yet again, as the Cubs lose 2-1 to the Pirates.